Just now returned at 7:00 PM from the funeral ceremony of our beloved Godbrother Sriman Gopiparanadhana Prabhu at Govardhana. They bade his body at about 3:00 PM; offered bhoga and arati to him and with the kirtan procession carried his body on the Govardhana Parikrama marg, passed by Manasi Ganga, to the cremation place. Many local residents, especially in the first beginning stretch, were stepping out of their shop or home and offering their humble respect to him.

At the cremation place they laid down his body on cow dung patties, of course from the cows of Vraja. They put more patties on the side and the top until his body was fully covered. His teenage son was the first one to light the funeral fire. After that I also lit the fire and many others did this.

The cool and gentle breeze was flowing from the Kusum Sarovar's side which was helping in fanning the fire. While kirtan was going on we started circumambulating the fire. Suddenly it started to rain gently, which was amazing and auspicious.

There were about 100 devotees, Prabhus and Matajis, in attendance. Several senior devotees were present, like Sruta Kirti Prabhu, Panca Gaura Prabhu, Kratu Prabhu, Radha Raman Swami, Janardana Prabhu, etc. Devotees traveled from nearby places, especially from New Delhi.

In the past Gopiparanadhana Prabhu had disclosed his will in person to his wife that his ashes to be put in Samadhi at the foothill of Govardhana, across the ISKCON Bhaktivedanta Ashram Govardhana project, next to Padmalochan Prabhu's Puspa Samadhi.

Tomorrow morning, 16th September, at 8:00 AM his remembrance and glorification has been scheduled in Krishna Balarama temple in Vrindavan. Anyone who would like to share their memories/glories of Gopiparanadhana Prabhu could send it to my email account: lokanath.swami@pamho.net

 

Whatever will arrive by that time, we will share that with the assembled devotees.  

There will be a feast in honor of Gopiparanadhana Prabhu. Gopal Krishna Maharaja has offered to sponsor the feast.  

His Grace Gopiparanadhana Prabhu Ki Jaya.  

Your servant, 

Lokanath Swami

My dear godbrother Gopipranadana Prabhu,
 

Please accept my humble obeisances! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!
 

Let start by offering my obeisances to him. Srila Prabhupada said that living and dying in the dham is the same. He left from Govardhan and went back to Spiritual world. His destination is auspicious. Of this we can rejoice. At the same time loosing him suddenly like this leaves us in separation and is a big lost. My last meeting with him was in the month of April 2011 at Vrinda Kunda. We had a long chat together. HG Gopipranadana Prabhu was one of a few accomplished devotees in sanskrit and dedicated himself for translating books that Srila Prabhupad had indicated for translation.

He was one of the lead member of the team that completed Srimad Bhagavatam that was so dear to Srila Prabhupada. He also translated Brihad Bhagavatamrta with purports. I dont know what other books he had in the pipeline. He was also training up other devotees in sanskrit to carry out this important service. One time he was contemplating moving to Mayapur but his heart was still in Govardhan. His classes were very scholarly and to the point. His association was mature and refreshing. Recently i passed through Hong Kong and met a chinese devotee who had taken initiation from him. How expansive his preaching was, i have only a glimpse.

I want to offer pushpanjali flowers at his lotus feet during this auspicious occassion of smrti sabha. There are many more advance devotees who probably have much more to say. This time our hearts reach up to his wife and child who are left behind to carry out his great legacy. I take this opportunity to offer sraddhanjali. All glories to HG Gopipranadana Prabhu! All glories to Srila Prabhupada!

Your Servant,

Jayapataka Swami

Bhakti Madhurya Govinda Goswami gave a lecture on the wonderful Vaishnava qualities of Gopipranadhana Prabhu during the Srimad Bhagavatam class in Bhaktivedanta Cultural Center (BCC), Prai. 

 

Maharaja explained how even though HG Gopipranadhana Prabhu was the most super-excellent scholar, he was the most humble person, always ready to offer ALL respects to every devotee and NOT expecting and honor from anyone. These are just some of his wonderful Vaishnava character.

 

Maharaja lamented how, ISKCON had lost a great Vaisnava scholar and a devotee. Many scholar came come in future but will they have the same humility and sublime character as HG Gopipranadhana Prabhu Maharaja wondered.

 

“Gopi”? (Gopiparanadhana prabhu). Oh, no! Surely there is some terrible mistake! Not Gopi! Oh no; surely it is just a nasty, irresponsible rumor—that Gopi has left us! But no; only about an hour after receiving this terrible news, it is confirmed. Gopi has left us! Oh Radhe! Oh Krishna! Oh, why? Why do you take away such a sweet and valuable devotee from our association? Oh why?

      

In these ways Maharaja described many wonderful qualities of Gopipranadhana Prabhu

 

Later at noon, we had prasadam offering to the picture of Gopipranadhana Prabhu, puspanjali and Guru puja. Siva Caitanya dasa lead a ecstatic kirtana in glorification of Gopipranadhana Prabhu.

I first met Gopiparanadhana Prabhu in 1979 in LA. We spent time together here in Bangalore from 1981-83 while he was working on the translation of the rest of the Bhagavatam. Over the years we had a nice friendship. He didn’t have a mean bone in his whole body and was incapable of offending any one; he had such humility and kindness in him.

 

Ironically today my wife and I had lunch at a devotee friend’s house. We had recommended that they read the Brhad Bhagavatamrta translated by Gopiparanadhana. Srila Prabhupada had said that if you want to understand what real Bhakti yoga is you must read BB. Just by reciting from memory whatever we could remember of the BB our hosts were so moved that tears were coming down their cheeks because of the wonderful descriptions of Lord Krsna’s dealings with His devotees contained in that book. Especially moving was how Krsna said to Gopa Kumar after he returned back to godhead in Goloka: “I have been looking at that path every day and wondering when will you show your mercy onto Me and come back to Me, and now you have returned to Me.” 

 

Lord Krsna is so humble that He is waiting for us to show our “mercy” on Him. There was no dry eye in the room. So in this way for at least 1-2 hours we were glorifying the BB and Gopiparanadhana Prabhu for translating it. Just then I got the SMS message that Gopiparanadhana Prabhu had left his body and could not believe that the person who I had been glorifying had just died. All I can think is that now Lord Krsna’s wait for His dear friend Gopiparanadhana Prabhu to come back to Him is now over.

Another Honorable Spiritual Son of Srila Prabhupada is no longer among us.

There is reciprocal love between Srila Prabhupada's disciples and their eternal spiritual father. This love is demonstrated in various ways. In one case it is demonstrated with service to Srila Prabhupada until the last day. By constantly preaching, mentoring, writing all the while maintaining sadhana and renunciation. Such is the  love of Gopiparanadhana Prabhu. 

 

There is sometimes a misconception that a bunch of hippies joined Srila Prabhupada in the 60's and 70's and it was just the "right time" for "alternative religions". However this is not the case. These devotees were sent to help Srila Prabhupada and their course and departure are part of that "lila". In Gopi Prabhu's case he was a scholar. Not just someone that could preach or repeat but a genuine scholar of sanskit and vedic texts. These are the type of bright, dedicated and selfless devotees sent to assist Srila Prabhupada in establishing ISKCON and making it flourish. 

 

Today Gopi Prabhu has departed his earthly pastimes. It serves as a reminder that we need to serve, value and learn all that we can from the honorable sons of Srila Prabhupada before it is too late to get their association. It also serves to remind all Godbrothers and Sisters that Srila Prabhupada has done so much for us and although we cannot all be scholars or as dedicated and renounced as Gopi Prabhu, now in our final years it is time to step up and do what we can to serve. 

 

Hare Krishna Gopiparanadhana Prabhu. 

 

by Subhavilasa das ACBSP, Toronto, CA :